Folding chair



March 7, 1933. w cLARlN 1,900,486

FOLDING CHAIR Filed May 28, 1931 55heets-Sheet l W. E. CLARIN FOLDING CHAIR March 7, 1933.

jzezezezar WW6 MM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1931 March 7, 1933. w, E, cLARlN 1,900,486

FOLDING CHAIR Filed May 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 WERNER E. CLARIN, or CHICAGO, ILriNoIs FOLDING CHAIR Application filed. ma 28,

My invention relatesto a folding chair. One of the mainv objects of this invention. is to provide a folding chair which has its various parts and elements so arranged that i it will be folded up automatically when it is thrown either forwardly or backwardly upon the floor or upon any similar flat surface.

Another object is to provide a folding chair which has its seat mounted on the legs so that it may be readily raised and folded while the legs remain in their standing position. I

A further object is to provide a chair which is so arranged that it may be readily folded up by placing a foot upon the brace which connects the rear legs, and then pulling on the back-rest part which extends upwardly from the front legs. a

A still furtherobject is to provide a light and durable chair, which is constructed of thin 'metal, so arranged as to provide the maximum of-strength with a minimum of materiahand to furnish a very serviceable chair at a small cost. 1 I Another object is to provide a removable shoe for the leg of'such a chair, which is very simply and economically constructed. These and various other objects and ad-. vantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which this invention is illustrated in itspreferred form of construction; it being understood that various other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carrying. out the objects and purposes of this invention. In thedrawings: J Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing this chair in its open or unfolded position.i Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, also showing in dotted lines how the seat may be readily raised without disturbing the open position ofthe legs. P7 Fig. 3 is a front elevational view, showing the chair in its closedor folded'posit ion.

\ Fig. 1 is a vertical,sectional'view,-taken onlinel-4;of Fig.3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlargedseotional views,

' taken respectively on lines5 5 and 6 6 1931. Serial 'No. 540,577.

' of Fig. 2, showing the legand brace con-f struction. 1

'Fig. 7" is an enlarged cross-sectional view,

taken on line- 7'? of Fig. 1, illustrating the pivotal connection of the legs. I

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the seat, taken on line 88 of Fig. 2.

Figs; 9 and 10 are side'views, showing respect1vely, how this chair readily and automatically folds or closes when it is cast 13-13 of Fig.'12.

backwardly and likewise forwardly upon the p Figs. 14 and 15 are viewsiof theishoe' (0 per se. a

The drawings illustrate, an embodimentof my invention, showing itin the preferred form of construction. This comprises a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs 21 7 which are mounted therebetween and are pivotally connected thereto by means of a pair of pivot pins 22., Each pin extends through two legs and through a reinforcing and spacing plate or strap24 secured to leg 80 20 and extending upwardly thereon, and {shrough a-short spacing plate25 securedto eg 21. r p

The front legs 20 are connected and bracedby means of cross-braces or bars 27 and 28, 85 at the intermediate and at theflower parts, respectivelyand the rear legs 21 are sim i-; larly connected and braced at the lower parts i by means of a cross-brace or bar 29.

from one bar orfmemberwhich isbentinto 95 the desired shape. By this construction'the frontlegs 20 are integral with theupper con: necting member which forms the frame partof the backrest; whilethe rear legs 21 are integral with their upperconnecting bar 100 I purpose of economy andsimplic ,e the legs.

31 which is preferably bentso as to be fiat or horizontal on the top, to provide a flat rest for the forward portion of the seat. A backrest plate or panel 32 is secured on frame part 80, to provide the back-rest for the chair.

The stock for constructing this chair, and especially for making the legs or supporting members, is preferably arranged in the form drawings, thus producing further economy in the construction of this chair. The ends of the braces or bars are suitably curved, substantially as indicated in the drawings and are Welded to the middle or web portions of The seat 35 in the present chair preferablycomprises a metal frame member 36 anda panel or seating member 37 mounted therein, said panel preferably being of rigid material and having cushioning means on the top thereof whlch may consist of inner fibrous material 38 and outer fabric 39 enclosing the same, as bestshownin Fi 8 of thedrawings.

' Said member 36 preferab y consists of a strap to provide the upper edge thereof an inwardly bent or strip of sheet metal which is arranged to 7 p'rovidea main side portion or depending portion which has its upper part bent inwardly to provide ahorizontal top flange 40, andw'liich has its lower part doubled over a doubled portion 41 having at flange 42, the seating member 37 with the edge portions of fabric39 being clamped between the flanges 150 and 42. The frame member embraces the seating member therein, and

it has its ends connected at the rear of the seat, asby' means ofan overlapping lip 43.

Iiithe present form of chair the seat is preferably mounted between the legs by having ears or lugs 45 provided on the sides of the seat, adjacent the rear part thereof, and the ears preferably extending downwardly from the frame means 36. A rivet or pivot element 16 extends through the ear and through leg" 20 and the spacing plate 24, as

' best shown in Fig. 11, thereby connecting the seat pivotally and swingably with the front legs, and providing support for the rear portion of the seat. The front part of the seat rests freely and detachably upon the horizontal top part or bar 31which connects the upper, front portions of the rear legs, so that the seat may be readily raised from said top bar 31 and swung to its folded position, without disturbing the legs in their open or standing position. r

Means is also provided for limiting the closing movement of the seat, and this means preferably comprises a rib 47 extending inwardly from a. leg 20, immediately beneath pivot pin 26 thereon, as best shown in Fig. 11. The lower doubled edge of frame member 36 abuts and rests against the rear face of this rib when the seat is swung into its closed or foldedposition, substantially as indicated in Figs. 4 and 11.

Means is provided for limiting the opening movement of the two pairs of legs and whereby the legs are normally retained in the open position. -This means preferably comprises a pair of links 49, each link having one end pivotally connected by a rivet or pivot element 50'to a front leg 20, between pivot pins 22 and 46,. and having the other end of the link movably connected with the rear leg,- preferably by a rod 51 connecting said ends of the linksand being slidable in slots 52 provided inthe upper .parts of the rear legs 21v VVhen the legs are folded, the connecting bar 31 at the tops of the front legs bears against the folded seat, thereby limiting the folding or closing movement of the legs.

These novel chairs are especially desirable and serviceable for use in class rooms and assembly halls, and where large groups of people are assembled, as they tend toward safety if a disturbance or panic should suddenly result; for the reason that these chairs will readily and automatically fold or close when they are upset or thrown upon the floor, either forwardly or backwardly. \Vhen the chair is thrown forwardly, the front edge of the seat will automatically slide upwardly, as best shown in Fig. 10, and the rear legs will automatically fold between the front legs, due to gravity and the impact of the chair upon the floor, thereby folding the chair fiat upon the floor. When the chair is thrown backwardly upon the floor or a similar flat surface, then as the back-rest frame 30 touches the floor the two pairs of legs automatically collapse or fold, and the bar 31 at thetops of the rear legs will slide along the lower face of the seat and thus automatically force the seat towards its closed position, thus foldingthe chair flat on its back upon the floor. This will enable the people to walk freely over the-folded chairs on the floor, 'which may have been thrown either forwardly or backwardly on the floor, by the rush of the people during the panic. v V

: It is alsoapparent from the drawings and the above description that the seat may be readily swung or moved upwardly toward the folded position, without folding or disturbing the standinglegmas indicated in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby furthermore adapting these chairs for assembly halls'and classrooms and the like where the chairs are placed close together, andthe persons are frequently called upon for short talks or replies, and are expected to rise in their seats. This chair is furthermore equipped with shoes of anovel construction; and to simplify the construction, the shoe is composed of only two members, an upper rigid member 55, whereby the shoe is mounted on the chair leg, and a lower pliable member 56 secured thereon, to bear upon the floor without marring the same. 7

The upper member is preferably made from a single bar or plate, as a strap of sheet metal which is curved at its central portion to provide a curled or rounded portion 57, and also two arms or branches 58 extending upwardly from said rounded portion to provide stem means mountable in channel means i 59 provided in the chair leg, preferably by extending the curled edge portions 0 at the lower part of each leg away from the web portion 5 thereof, as indicated in Fig. 13. The arms 58 are also provided with bowed portions 59 near the upper end, and the strap or member 55 is made from slightly resilient material, so that the arms are normally firmly retained in the leg but are also detachable therefrom.

The member 56 is composed of pliable material, preferably of rubber, and is arranged substantially in the form of a block. During the construction the material of this block is caused to enter in and around the curved or curled portion 57 of the upper member 55; and for the purpose of providing a more secure connection the curved portion 57 has a notch 61 provided in its inter mediate part, so that the plastic rubber or material will enter through this notch as well as through the ends of said portion 57 during the manufacture of the shoe, so as to completely fill said portion and to be firmly anchored thereon.

It should be noted that this shoe is detachably mounted in the leg; and that when the shoe is positioned in the leg, the lower end of the leg bears or rests directly upon the curved or curled portion 57 of the metal members 55, thereby preventing this lower end of the leg from cutting or descending into the pliable material or rubber of the block 56. As this block is of rubber or similar pliable material it will not damage or mar the floor, and it will at the same timejbear upon the floor with a sufficient amount of friction to prevent slipping over a highly polished floor.

This shoe construction thus provides a very efiicient and desirable shoe for a chair leg, or the leg of an article of furniture, and at thereon which is integral and continuous with the top ends of said legs and is of the same stock of material as the legs, said top ends of the rear legs being offset inwardly from the front legs, two links between said ofiset ends and said front legs, saidlinks being pivoted to the front legs and carrying a rod which is slidable in slots in the offset ends, and a seat pivotally mounted between the front legs, and having its forward portion detachably resting on the top member on the rear legs, to be readily swung upwardly therefrom without folding the legs, and also to be moved by said member to the folded position when the chair is thrown backwards on the floor.

2. A metal folding chair comprising a pair and backrest means including of front legs a backrest frame which is integral and continuous with the top part of said legs, a pair of rear legs pivoted between said front legs and having their upper ends oifsetinwardly;

therefrom, continuous with the top part of said rear legs, a cross-bar connecting the legs of each pair, these pairs of legs and their upper connecting members and cross-bars being of the same stock of sheet metal strips having curled edge portions for reenforcement, two links pivoted at the rear endsto the inner sides of said front legs and being foldable between the latter and the offset leg ends, a rod connecting the front ends of said links and being slidable in slots provided in said offset leg ends, and a seat pivotally mounted between said front legs and having the front part resta connecting member integral and e ing freely upon the connecting member on f specification.

WERNER E. CLARIN.

the same time provides a simple and avery economical construction.

It is also apparent from the above disclosure that thls construction and arrangement of the legs and the seat, and of the entire chair, provides an exceedingly serviceable and valuable folding chair. 

